Toy cannon and target



(No Model.)

J HANNAN TOY CANNON AND TARGET.

No. 669,282. Patented Oct. 13, 1896.

In E ArnNT OFFICE.

JAMES HANNAN, OF MUSCATINE, IOVA.

TOY CANNON AND TARGET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 569,282, dated October13, 1896.

Application filed January 30, 1896. Serial No. 577,414. (No model.)

To all whom, it' m 'by concern;

Be it known that I, JAMES HANNAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Muscatine, in the county of Muscatine and State of Iowa,have invented a new and useful Toy Cannon and Target, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in toys, and has for its objectto provide a miniature toy cannon and target mounted upon a common base,the vcannon being adapted to project a ball in the direction of thetarget.

A further object of the invention is to provide in connection with thecannon means whereby a percussion-cap may be exploded simultaneouslywith the firing of the ball,

'With the above objects in view the invention consists in certain novelfeatures and vdetails of construction and arrangement of parts, ashereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and finallypointed out in the claims.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of theimproved toy complete. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view throughthe barrel of the cannon, showing the spring-plunger, tbc. Fig. 3 is adetail perspective view of the cap-socket. Fig. is a detail view of thepivoted target. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail perspective view of thetrigger mechanism.

Similarnumerals of reference designate corresponding' parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a board of anysuitable length constituting the base upon which the other parts of thetoy are mounted. At one end of this base-board is rigidly attached astationary gun rest or carriage 2, the inner portion of which isprovided, as to its top edge, with a groove forming a longitudinal seatfor a section of metal tubing constituting the barrel 3 of the cannon.The rear portion of the gun-rest is cut away or depressed forconvenience in mounting the trigger hereinafter described.

Vithin the breech of the barrel is fitted a rigid breech-plug 4, havingan eccentric perforation 5, through which passes a plunger G, having acap or ferrule 7, attached to its front end and approximating theinternal diameter of the barrel 3. A spiral spring S is interposedbetween the cap or ferrule 7 and the breech-plug 4, which spring servesto actuate the plunger toward the muzzle of the barrel. Adjacent to itsrear end the plunger is provided with a finger-grasp 9, by means ofwhich the said plunger may be retracted, and also has a loop or eye 10for en- This trigger may be formed from a piece of wire, the front endof which is driven into the rest 2, from whence it extends rearwardly ina groove in said rest, being formed with a vertical catch 12 forengaging the eye 10 on the plunger, and also having arearwardlyextending trip-arm, by means of which the trigger may bemanipulated both for engaging and releasing the plunger. The trigger maybe made from spring-wire, so that its engagement with the plunger willbe normally preserved. The plunger is also provided adjacent toits rearend with a lateral extension forming a hammer 13, the end of which ispreferably arranged in the same horizontal plane as the plunger proper,but at one side thereof, the said hammer being adapted, in the forwardmovement of the plunger, to strike against and explode a percussion capor pellet contained in a metal socket-piece 14, arranged at the breechof the vbarrel 3. This cap-socket is made from a piece' of sheet metal,the same being folded upon itself so as to leave a sufficient amount ofspace between the folded portions toadmit of the in sertion of apercussion-cap.

The rear folded portion of the cap-socket is provided with a notch 15,through which the hammer operates in exploding the cap. Thecap-socketfits and slides, as to its lower edge, in a transverse groovea in the upper surface of the gun-rest 2, and its inner end is slottedto straddle the plunger-stem 6. The socket 14 is extended at its outerend to form a iin ger-hold by which it may be removed and replaced, anda cord is interposed between the cap-socket and gun rest or base toprevent the former from being lost. The capsocket may be secured to thegun-rest in any convenient manner. At the opposite end of the base lisarranged a rigid upright stop 16, consisting of a board or plate havingits central portion cut out and a pivoted block or gagement with thetrigger, (indicated at 1l.)

IOO

vjected toward and against the target.

movable bulls-eye 17 arranged therein and journaled on a horizontal pinor Wire 1S at or near the base of said block. This pivoted block mayhave represented thereon a head, as illustrated in the drawings,although it will be apparent that any desired representation may be madethereon, or an audible target in the form of a gong may be attachedeither to the block or the stop. This target is located Within the rangeof the cannon and is adapted to be operated by means of a captive ball19, fast upon the end of an anchoring-cord 20, or a ball not sofastened, if desired.

In operation the plunger is drawn back and engagedby the trigger in themanner abovel described, a percussion-cap being thereafter inserted inthe cap-socket at the breech of the barrel. The ball is now placed inthe muzzle of the barrel and pushed toward the breech by means of aramrod, when the cannon is ready to be fired. This is accomplished bymanipulating the trigger, Which releases the plunger and causes the ballto be pro- The stop-board surrounding the pivoted target stops the ballsin the event of their going Wide of the mark, thus adding to the safetyof the device.

The toy hereinabove described may be manufactured at slight cost andWillbe a source of much amusement and entertainment to children,especially as the simultaneous explosion of the percussion-cap adds tothe realistic eect.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction maybe resorted to Without departing 4from the spirit or sacrificing and ofthe advantages of this invention.

VHaving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. Theherein-described toy comprising a cannon having a tubular barrel, areciprocating spring-actuated plunger therein, a trigger for saidplunger, a hammer carried by and forming a part of the plunger, and acap-socket located near the breech of the barrel, the said cap-socketbeing slotted to engage the plunger-stem and formed to constitute aholder for a percussion-cap, substantially as described.

2. The herein-described toy, comprising a tubular barrel, a rest inwhich said barrel is In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own lhave hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

' J AMES HANNAN. Vitnesses:

H. D. HORST, CHAs. O. MCBRIDE.

